Golden Gate man accused of killing wife, son dies in hospice

A Golden Gate man who confessed to gunning down his wife and son inside their home in August died in hospice care on Tuesday.

Jose Suazo, 49, left the Naples jail on June 5, and was transported to Avow hospice, Collier County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Michelle Batten said. He died of natural causes, Batten said, but the exact cause of his death was not released due to federal medical privacy laws.

Although Suazo was not in the jail while he was in hospice, he was always considered to be in custody.

"We did have a deputy with him at all times," Batten said.

Suazo shot and killed his wife Johana Nunez, 35, and oldest son Joseph Suazo, 18, inside the family's home at 3032 50th St. S.W. on Aug. 15. He shot them multiple times with a revolver, according to Sheriff's Office reports.

After the shooting, Suazo called a pastor in Fort Myers and confessed to killing his family members. Lee County deputies arrested him during a traffic stop on Interstate 75 a few hours later.

After his arrest, Suazo made a taped confession with detectives.

They said Suazo and Nunez had an argument that morning after she returned home from dropping off the couple's two young sons at day care. Court records obtained by WINK News earlier this month show that Suazo believed his wife had a lover and she did not deny it. The documents say Suazo called a friend the morning of the killings and said he'd had enough and called a pastor and said "I'm going to kill her," the TV station reported.

It's not clear why he shot his son.

Sheriff's Office reports obtained after the killings detailed a tumultuous family dynamic that included several allegations of domestic violence. Suazo told investigators after one incident that his oldest son was "defiant" and his wife was not supportive.

Suazo pleaded not guilty to two first degree murder charges. The State Attorney's Office has closed his case. His next court date had been scheduled for July.